Bears WRs Marshall, Jeffery make life tough on Lions

But Detroit's Johnson has last laugh with win, team record for career TD catches

November 10, 2013|By Fred Mitchell, Chicago Tribune reporter

When he wasn't catching touchdown passes and making clutch first-down receptions Sunday against the Lions, Brandon Marshall was encouraging Jay Cutler to "hang in there" while the Bears' starting quarterback was in obvious pain with an ankle injury.

"He was a soldier," Marshall said. "Probably from the second drive, he had all kinds of things going on with him from his waist down."

Marshall (seven catches for 139 yards and 2 TDs) and Alshon Jeffery (nine catches for 114 yards) managed to keep the Bears' hopes alive until the end of the 21-19 loss at Soldier Field.

The Marshall-Jeffery tandem more than matched the performance of the Lions' Calvin Johnson (six catches for 83 yards and 2 TDs) and Kris Durham (1 catch for 5 yards).

Johnson broke Herman Moore's Lions career touchdown reception record with his 63rd with 2 minutes, 22 seconds left in the game.

"I didn't know what number it was," Johnson said. "When it's all said and done, I'll think about it. But we're in this stuff right now. I mean, no doubt, much respect for Herm. We talk to him on a regular basis in that facility. To be a part of history for the Lions, that's pretty good."

Marshall insisted he does not get any more stoked playing against a team with a receiver of Johnson's caliber.

"I approach every game the same," Marshall said. "There are times when your emotions can get riled up: 'Monday Night Football,' 'Thursday Night Football' ... the defensive back on the other (side of the ball) trash talking. I don't hang from the rafters when things are going good or put your head down when things are bad. I try to keep a balanced head.

"Actually, before the game, me and 51 (Dominic Raiola) got into it a little bit. I had to tell myself that's not my game. Keep your cool. We didn't get it done.

"I don't like the Detroit Lions. Really don't like them. Sure, there are some good people in Detroit, but as far as their football team, I can't wait to see them in the playoffs."

Marshall caught his first TD pass of 32 yards from Cutler on the opening drive. His second TD grab of 11 yards came from Josh McCown with 40 seconds left. When the two-point conversion failed, so did the Bears' hopes of securing first place in the NFC North.

Marshall was targeted 12 times by Cutler and McCown.

"They all had my back. This is a very close-knit group on offense," Cutler said of the receiving corps. "It's a good thing; it has helped us."

Tight end Martellus Bennett joined the reception party with four catches. Matt Forte (4), Earl Bennett (2) and Tony Fiammetta (1) also caught passes.

"They were playing outstanding; they were competing, playing hard," McCown said. "Every single one of them — when their number was called — were making plays. And that's what we ask of them in our offense.

"It's fun to play with those guys. You take a lot of stress off yourself when you walk in the huddle and you see those guys and you know what kind of guys you've got playing with you."

Jeffery appeared to catch a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in the corner of the end zone. But replays showed he bobbled the pass and the Bears had to settle for a 32-yard Robbie Gould field goal.

"I thought I had it, but at the end I knew I had bobbled it," Jeffery said. "I mean, sometimes you win them, sometimes you don't."

The Bears wound up throwing the ball 49 times, not counting the two combined sacks of Cutler and McCown.

"We liked the passing game a lot," Cutler said. "We moved the ball well."